Carrying-yoke.



O. KNOERZER.

CARRYING YOKE.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 15, 1909.

Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

. 7'ZU 71 I" THE NORRIS parses co. WASHINGTON, n c.

OTTO KNOERZER, OF HAMMOND, INDIANA.

GARRYING-YOKE.

Application filed. January 15, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 9, 1910..

Serial No. 472,427.

to one chain, and for carrying objects of Be it known that I, OrroKNOERZER, a different shapes and sizes. The said center citizen of theUnited States, residing at Hammond, in the county of Lake, State ofIndiana, have invented a new and useful Carrying -Yoke, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved carrying-yoke of the kind which isdesigned to be placed across and to rest upon a mans shoulders, and tosupport a load suspended from each end.

The present invention relates more especially to a yoke embracingseveral improved features of construction combining to produce strengthand lightness and cheapness of manufacture, and also adapting it to bemore comfortably carried than the ordinary form of yoke in common use.

The novel features of my invention are more specifically pointed out inthe appended claims, and are illustrated by the accompanying drawing inwhich:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of one form of my improved yoke. Fig. 2 is aview in front elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 33of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 4 is avertical section on line 44 of Fig. 2, looking in the directionindicated by the arrows. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan Viewillustrating a modification of the yoke shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive.Fig. 6 is a view in front elevation thereof.

As shown in said drawings, in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, 10 indicates as awhole the beam or bar constituting the essential part of the device.Said beam consists of end portions 11, 11, which project outwardlybeyond the shoulders of a person carrying the yoke, and support theloads at their outer ends, and a center portion 12 rigidly connectingthe same. Said end portions 11, 11, as here shown, take the form ofinverted T beams, each T beam consisting of a vertical web portion 13,13, and a double horizontal flange 14, 14. Each of said T beams at itsouter end is curved downwardly for a few inches, for a purpose whichwill be explained hereinafter, and terminates in the form of a ring, 17and 17. From said rings are suspended chains, 20, 20, each provided atits lower end with a double pronged hook, 21, 21, preferably formed witha large prong, 22, 22, and a comparatively smaller one 23, 23, forconvenience in attaching several objects portion 12 of the beam or bar10 is curved in a horizontal plane, to fit around the back of thewearers neck, and from the inside of such curved portion the horizontalflange 14 is omitted in order that the beam may lie fiat against thewearers neck. For a similar purpose, the web portion of said curved part12 is slanted forward in the form of a portion of a truncated cone,adapting it to fit accurately to the base portion of the wearers neck.The importance of this will be explained hereinafter.

Referring now to the novel means of supporting the beam upon a mansshoulders, 30, 30, indicates, as a whole, fulcrum blocks which arepivotally attached to the beam in a manner permitting their movement inthe vertical plane of the beam. Each of said blocks consists of a curvedbase portion 32, and a vertical web or flange 34. The latter engages ina slot 36 in the vertical web 13 of the beam, said web being thickenedat two places to permit of such slotting. Said slots 36, 36, arearranged inthe beam at the inner ends of the outer or end portions 11,

11, thereof. The weight of the beam, and load, is carried upon thefulcrum blocks by means of headed bolts 38, 38, provided with nuts 40,40, and passing through openings in the walls of the slots and in theflange 34. Each wall is provided with more than one opening, so that theblocks may be shifted toward or from each other to adapt the device tobe carried by persons with different breadths of shoulders. It is notnecessary that the distance between the two blocks be adjustedaccurately, as they may be moved about their points of pivotalattachment to the beam to vary the distance between them.

The curved base portion of each block 30 is fitted on its under sidewith a pad 42 of felt or other material, and is perforated as shown, tosave weight and to facilitate ventilation. in place by rivets, 42, 42,as shown.

The practical importance of the employment of fulcrum blocks 30, 30, andof their construction as above described, is that they may adjustthemselves about their points of attachment to the beam 10 toaccommodate themselves to the slant of the wearers shoulders, and mayalways be arranged to rest fiat thereon. Likewise, they permit offreedom of movement of the wearers arms The pad is conveniently securedand shoulders, adjusting themselves to the wearers shoulders, and therewill'therefore be no tendency of the beam to overturn and fall off.WVhen the wearer is stooping forward to load or unload the device, thecurved part 12 of the beam is designed to rest flat against the back ofhis neck, in order to prevent the yoke from overturning forward, andsliding off his shoulders.

In Figs. 5 and 6 is illustrated a modified form of the yoke which isdesigned more especially for cheapness in manufacture. In such modifiedform one of the horizontal flanges of the beam is omitted, the lattertaking the form of a plain angle beam, or

- angle bar 50, consisting of vertical and horizontal flanges 52 and 54Lrespectively. With the same object in view, cheapness of manufacture,the center portion of the beam is cylindrically curved, instead ofconically, as

- in Figs. 1 to 45 inclusive. The curve is so described as to leave thehorizontal flange 54: at the outside thereof. ,In place of the slots 36,36, aboVe described, the flanges 34: of the fulcrum blocks engage inslots 55 formed between the faces of the vertical flange 52, andvertical plates 56, which are secured thereto by rivets 58, 58. Saidplates, at their ends, are bent as shown, in order that their centerportions may be spaced at the proper distance from the flange 52. Theplates and the flange 52 are provided with openings 60, 60, to engagewith headed bolts 62 which carry the weight of the beam and load uponthe fulcrum blocks as above described.

I claim as my invention: 1. In a carrying-yoke, the-combination of abeam and fulcrum blocks afflxed thereto, and relatively movable in thevertical plane of the beam, and means for varying the distance betweenthe points of attachment of said blocks to said beam, said beamconsisting of a web portion and'a flange disposed at an angle thereto,and being downwardly curved at its ends, and the center portion thereofbeing shaped to rest against the body of a person carrying the same.

2. In a carrying-yoke, the combination of a beam and a relativelymovable fulcrum block aflixed thereto, said beam being provided with aslot and said block with a flange adapted to engage therewith, pairs ofopenings through the walls of said slot, an opening through said flange,and a pin adapted to engage in said openings, said beam consisting of aweb portion and a flange disposed at an angle thereto, and beingdownwardly curved at its ends, and the center portion thereof beingshaped to rest against the body of a person carrying the same.

orro KNOERZER.

